Mark Griffin

Mark Griffin (born 19 October 1985) is a Scottish Labour politician who has served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Central Scotland region since 2011. Early life and career Raised in Kilsyth, he attended St Patrick's Primary School and then St. Maurice's High School in Cumbernauld, before studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, where he graduated with a BEng (Hons) degree, in 2007. Griffin is a trained Mechanical Engineer and prior to his election to North Lanarkshire Council in 2008, he was a serving soldier in the British Territorial Army (TA). Political career Having served as a North Lanarkshire Councillor from 2008 until 2012 (serving the multi-member Kilsyth ward), Griffin was elected on the Central Scotland regional list at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. In May 2012, Griffin was appointed Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Sport. He held the role until July 2013, when he became Shadow Minister for Transport and Veterans. When Jim Murphy was elected Scottish Labour Party leader in December 2014, Griffin was appointed as Shadow Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, covering school education, qualifications, science, HM Inspectorate of Education, the Scottish Qualifications Authority and languages.